Here's a Look at an Electrician's Hot-Water Maintenance Checklist

Don't you just love the nice, warm feeling of water smoothly flowing on your head all the way down to your feet? If you're like many people, you find taking a hot shower to be delightfully restorative. 

Of course, this restorative feeling relies on the proper functioning of your hot water system. This, in turn, depends on how well you look after the water heating equipment.

If you get your hot water supply from an electric water heater, you should seek out an electrician to help you with hot-water maintenance. But first, it is important that you understand the scope of their work, as some maintenance aspects of your water heating system will require the attention of a plumber.

As part of scheduled hot water maintenance, an electrician will check the following components of your water heater.

Heating Mechanism

Most electric hot-water systems for homes come with two heating elements located inside the storage tank of heat the water. One of the heating elements is located at the top of the tank, while the other is located near the bottom. 

If your water heater is taking longer than usual to get the water to the desired temperature, it may be that the heating elements are faulty. Regular water-heater maintenance by a professional electrician helps to identify and replace any burnt out heating elements before they can make your hot showers ice-cold.

Thermostat

The thermostat in your water heater is the electrical device that regulates the temperature of the water. It is usually set at the desired water temperature. Some water heaters even have a separate thermostat for each heating element. 

If your water is too hot or too cold, it is likely that your thermostat needs to be reset or it may be out of order.

Electrical Connections 

Like other electrical equipment, your electric water heater relies on wire connections to deliver power to all its electric components, such as the heating elements and thermostat. During scheduled maintenance, an electrician will check the wiring to make sure it is intact. Any loose wiring will be tightened while damaged wiring will be replaced. 

Electrical water-heater maintenance helps to identify electrical problems with your hot water system before they can lead to system failure, which may be expensive to repair. It also helps to extend the lifespan of your water heater by preventing major problems. Be sure to discuss the terms of your contract with a hot water maintenance electrician before committing to hiring them.

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